Welcome to a slice of my mind

Menu

Monthly Archives: September 2018

Outside of her seven marriages, little is known about famous mid-twentieth century actress and sex icon Evelyn Hugo. One day, this famous actress long out of the spotlight decides to do a tell all, and demands that little-known journalist Monique Grant writes the book.

Monique, for her part, has just broken up with her husband, who decided to move across the country without her. Her journalistic career is also not where she wanted it to be at 35. This story is a chance to rocket her career into orbit, but little does she know it will do more than that.

When I first saw this book, I honestly didn’t have much interest in it. I don’t tend to care much about Hollywood, actors and actresses or their drama. However I saw so many people raving about this book that I had to pick it up.

And it was so, so worth it.

It drew me in quickly at first with the journalism bits, as someone who almost went into journalism those bits were relatable to me. But from there the emotion and mystery grabbed me and, frankly, never let go. Throughout the story we saw the ups and downs of Evenlyn’s life, the truth behind all of the rumors about which the media knows even less than it thinks.

This is a small spoiler but it’s important that I talk about it, Evelyn is Bisexual. This is revealed fairly early in the story, though she was closeted to the public for her whole life. She did tell a few people and, well let’s just say it plays an integral part from beginning to end.

Her bisexuality though brings us to another part, this book gives a look into some of the history of the LGTBQIA+ community in the mid-late 20th century and how much many people had to hide. Especially in the case of a famous person who’s career could be shattered by it, at one point Evelyn even expresses concern that the cops could come for her and anyone she’s with should people find out.

The book ties everything up beautifully in the end and is arguably the most beautiful and heartbreaking books I have read this year, possibly ever.

Aliens don’t exist. At least, not as far as the public is concerned. Unfortunately for Sarah and Maggie, they do. Abducted by parasitic aliens intent on using their bodies as hosts. With the Kemtewet intent on using them as status symbols, the Gertewet, parasites who don’t inhabit humans without their consent, are working to take down the Kemtewet empire. Our intrepid pair must work to escape with their lives and minds in tact. But can they do it without becoming Gertewet hosts?

The idea behind Rights of Use grabbed me right off the bat and I eagerly jumped in the moment it became available on Kindle. I thoroughly enjoyed it and am excited for the next in the series. The book follows multiple perspectives, including Sarah, Maggies father, and two Gertewet/human pairs (The Gertewet work with their human hosts, leaving their minds in tact. Kemtewet think of humans as meatsuits.)

All were well developed, believable and interesting, especially with the insights into Kemtewet culture. I found Sarah’s POV by far the most, since she was in a lot of the most immediate danger from a POV standpoint. Maggie and Sarah are together often though so we don’t see many Maggie POV’s comparatively.

This book features Genderfluid aliens who adopt the gender of their hosts and might have multiple hosts of different genders over a lifetime, as well as questions of bodily autonomy.

Trigger warnings for rape analogies, genocide, murder and kidnapping.

Overall this book was very good and I would reccomend it to anyone who finds the idea remotely interesting.